Leave of Absence Duration and Reasons

1. General : leave of absence due to personal reasons
2. Illness : Leave of absence due to illness
3. Pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare : Leave of absence due to pregnancy, childbirth, or care of child under the age of 8
4. Start-up business (preparation) : Leave of absence for the purpose of starting a business
5. Military enlistment : Leave of absence due to enlistment in the military

Duration of Leave of Absence

1. Leave of absence due to illness or personal reasons is limited to a maximum of 6 semesters in total. However, military enlistment, business start-up, and pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare leave are assessed case by case.
2. A student can apply for a leave of absence for up to two semesters. One can then apply for additional leave if returning to school after 2 semesters is not possible.

Applying for General Leave of Absence

1. A student can apply for a general leave of absence through Classnet > Academic/Academic > 'Leave of Absence/Reinstatement/Leave of Absence Extension' menu during the specified time period.
   Students should check the information for applying for leave of absence announced on the school homepage > Hongik Plaza > Announcements > Student Notice each semester. (1st semester leave of absence : announced at the end of January each year / 2nd semester leave of absence : announced at the end of July every year)
   Ineligibility due to outstanding library book loans, or exceeding the possible number of leaves of absence may lead to approval not granted, therefore a student must check approval status after the application.
2. Students are unable to apply for a general leave of absence for at least one year after initial admission to the school.
   However, leave of absence may be granted for reasons such as military service, illness, and other unavoidable circumstances by submitting supporting documents.

Applying for Military Leave of Absence

• 1. A student can apply for a military leave of absence through the menu Classnet > Academic/Academic > "Military Leave of Absence Application" 10 days before the date of enlistment up until the day before enlistment. In case of application approval not being granted, a student must check the approval status through the menu  Classnet > Academic/Academic > "Academic Change Inquiry" after applying.

  • A student must upload one of the following supporting documents showing the date of enlistment (enlistment notice, enlistment confirmation certificate, military registration certificate, etc.) when applying for a military leave of absence.
• 2. If a student on military leave is sent home from the military, the student must report this to the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Affairs and Admission Team) within 5 days of discharge.
• 3. In the case of change in service period (compassionate discharge, early discharge due to a change in military service disposition, etc) the student must return to school within 1 year from the date of discharge.

Applying for a Medical Leave of Absence

• 1. Method and Procedure

  • A. How to apply : To apply for medical leave, a student should visit the Seoul Campus Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Affairs and Admission Team).
  • B. Application process : ① Visit the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Admissions Team) and fill out a medical leave form > ② Visit the Health Care Center and receive a medical referral certificate from the school doctor after a consultation/interview > ③ Visit the Scholarship Team (or Sejong Campus Student Welfare Team) and receive a confirmation stamp > ④ Visit the Central (Munjeong) Library Loans Room and receive a stamp > ⑤ Visit the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Admissions Team) and submit the Leave of Absence form.

• 2. Documents to submit

  • A. Medical leave form : Fill out the form provided by the school (stamped/signed by both the student and parent)
  • B. A medical certificate from a certified tertiary hospital stating that the student must be hospitalized and undergo outpatient care for more than 4 weeks.
  • C. Medical referral certificate : Visit the Health Care Center with the medical leave form and medical certificate, and receive the referral certificate after consultation with the school doctor.

  • D. Additional documents to submit (in case of tuition refund)

    • Copy of both the student and parent's identification card
    • Certificate of family relationship status
    • A copy of the parent's bankbook (showing account number)

Applying for Pregnancy, Maternity, and Parental Leave

• 1. Method and Procedure

  • A. How to apply : To apply for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare leave a student should visit the Seoul Campus Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Affairs and Admission Team).
  • B. Application process : ① Visit the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Admissions Team) and fill out the Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare Leave Form > ② Visit the Scholarship Team (or Sejong Campus Student Welfare Team) and receive a stamp > ③ Visit the Central (Munjeong) Library Loans Room and receive a stamp > ④ Visit the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Admissions Team) and submit the leave form.

• 2. Documents to submit

  • A. Pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare leave form : Fill out the form provided by the school (stamped/signed by both the student and parent)
  • B. Medical certificate or Certificate of family relationship status

  • C. Additional documents to submit (in case of tuition refund)

    • Copy of both student and parent's identification card
    • Certificate of family relationship status
    • A copy of the parent's bankbook (showing account number)

Applying for an Entrepreneurial/Start-up business (Preparation) Leave of Absence

• 1. Method and Procedure

  • A. How to apply : A student should apply for a start-up business (preparation) leave of absence by visiting the Seoul Campus Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Academic Affairs and Admission Team) during the general leave of absence application period.

  • B. Application and processing procedure : ① Visit the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Admissions Team) and fill out the Entrepreneurship/Start-up (Preparation) Leave of Absence Form > ② Visit the Scholarship Team (or Sejong Campus Student Welfare Team) and receive a stamp > ③ Visit the Central (Munjeong) Library Loans Room and receive a stamp > ④ Visit the Entrepreneurship Education Center and receive a stamp > ⑤ Visit the Academic Services Team (or Sejong Campus Academic Admissions Team) and submit the Leave of Absence Form > ⑥ Entrepreneurship Education Bachelor Degree System Steering Committee Review

    The Steering Committee may conduct an on-site inspection to review the Entrepreneurial/ Start-up leave of absence.

  • C. Approval of entrepreneurship leaves : Limited only to fields related to the student applicant's major (includes double major/minor). However, the steering committee may give approval regardless of the field if the applicant meets one of the following conditions.

    • 1) A student who has accumulated 9 or more entrepreneurship substitution credits.
    • 2) A student who has accumulated 3 or more entrepreneurship substitution credits, and has been selected for the Small Business Administration Entrepreneurship Support Project.
    • 3) A student who can show evidence they have been undergoing preparations to start a business for a period of six months prior to the time of application.
    • 4) A student who can show evidence that business registration has been completed, or that a corporation has been established six months prior to the time of application.

• 2. Documents to submit

  • A. Entrepreneurial/Start-up Preparation Leave of Absence applicants : Business plan, supporting documents showing evidence of preparations for starting a business etc.
  • B. Entrepreneurial/Start-up Leave of Absence applicants : Business or corporate license registration document or certified copy of corporate register, start-up performance report, and any other documents certifying start-up business activity.